Opinion

We need another pub/kiosk at the Cotter Reserve

Let me cut straight to the chase. WE NEED ANOTHER PUB AT THE COTTER!!!!

The ACT government has spent way more money on art pieces positioned on median strips when it could have invested in tendering for a contractor to run a pub and kiosk out at the Cotter. The Cotter offers a nice getaway for families, drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists … an opportunity to experience the countryside so close to Canberra.

When the Cotter pub and kiosk were running there were heaps of people heading out to the Cotter on weekends. Not everyone wants to spend their weekends in Civic shopping.

So … I ask for your feedback. What are your thoughts on the ACT government putting out a tender for a contractor to build a new pub and kiosk … as well as tendering for a publican and a kiosk operator to man these establishments on weekends? It sounds like a no brainer to me and would be money well worth spending on our local tourism industry.

I don’t really understand all of the opposition to issuing an alcohol license at the Cotter. I don’t believe in punishing the majority because a minority have problems with consumption. Also, the hipster bashing is getting boring. If you hate it, feel free to avoid the trendier places and leave the tables for people who actually want to be there.

A cafe/dinner venue – even a pizza joint – would be great at the Cotter. A glass of wine overlooking the river in summer, a hot chocolate by the fireplace in winter. So many people go to the Cotter anyway for picnics, why not add to the appeal? God knows, it’s nigh on impossible to get a good coffee out that way. The stuff that’s served at the space station is abysmal.

Re alcohol, if a licensee serves “too much” to a customer and that customer tries to drive home, causing an accident, the licensee can be deemed responsible, especially in a remote place like Cotter.

Re “hipster bashing”, we older people have just as much right to state our food preferences as any other group.

I don’t really understand all of the opposition to issuing an alcohol license at the Cotter. I don’t believe in punishing the majority because a minority have problems with consumption. Also, the hipster bashing is getting boring. If you hate it, feel free to avoid the trendier places and leave the tables for people who actually want to be there.

A cafe/dinner venue – even a pizza joint – would be great at the Cotter. A glass of wine overlooking the river in summer, a hot chocolate by the fireplace in winter. So many people go to the Cotter anyway for picnics, why not add to the appeal? God knows, it’s nigh on impossible to get a good coffee out that way. The stuff that’s served at the space station is abysmal.

I don’t want the pub rebuilt – there are enough accidents and fatalities on that road without adding more alcohol to the mix.

The replacement needn’t serve alcohol, but if it did, at least the drinking would be under responsible service conditions. At the moment, and as evidenced by all the broken grog bottles you see in bush areas around Cotter, Tharwa and in between, people take a case out and drink it anyway.

I don’t think there’s a business case for a new venue at the Cotter. It is above all a picnic area. And the Stromlo cafe with the views is on the road there anyway. The only freelance expression of interest I’ve heard of so far called for developing a bistro as part of a tourist development to make it work financially.

To have any chance of success it would have to be named “Braddon on Cotter”.

I don’t want the pub rebuilt – there are enough accidents and fatalities on that road without adding more alcohol to the mix.

The replacement needn’t serve alcohol, but if it did, at least the drinking would be under responsible service conditions. At the moment, and as evidenced by all the broken grog bottles you see in bush areas around Cotter, Tharwa and in between, people take a case out and drink it anyway.

I don’t think there’s a business case for a new venue at the Cotter. It is above all a picnic area. And the Stromlo cafe with the views is on the road there anyway. The only freelance expression of interest I’ve heard of so far called for developing a bistro as part of a tourist development to make it work financially.

Modern Canberra would dictate $35 for a schooner of some never heard of craft beer and $45 for a meat pie made mainly of pastry if something were to open at the Cotter now, the sort of pub that used to exist out there isn’t possible in today’s Canberra where the food and alcohol industry seem to be a license to print money.

Selling alcohol or not doesn’t really matter because if people are going to go there to drink or get drunk they will just continue to bring the booze there with them like they do now.

It would be good however to have a kiosk and restaurant catering to everyone with both pies and ice creams for the family and a nice café or bistro t sit down for a nice lunch or dinner.

If the question is whether or not the government should pay I think if they don’t want to spend the funds then at least let private businesses have a chance to bid for a tender because it would indeed be a boost to tourist numbers to our beautiful cotter just like the café is to the arboretum.

That’s the cafe/souvenier shop at the arboretum that closes at 4.00pm yet paid parking there runs to 5.00pm?

It’s disappointing how may cafes do close at 4pm, or worse, earlier, when traditionally afternoon tea is about 4pm. Oh, well, after failing to find an open cafe, at last McDonalds is still open…if one is about.

Selling alcohol or not doesn’t really matter because if people are going to go there to drink or get drunk they will just continue to bring the booze there with them like they do now.

It would be good however to have a kiosk and restaurant catering to everyone with both pies and ice creams for the family and a nice café or bistro t sit down for a nice lunch or dinner.

If the question is whether or not the government should pay I think if they don’t want to spend the funds then at least let private businesses have a chance to bid for a tender because it would indeed be a boost to tourist numbers to our beautiful cotter just like the café is to the arboretum.

That’s the cafe/souvenier shop at the arboretum that closes at 4.00pm yet paid parking there runs to 5.00pm?

Yes please! The Cotter already has such wonderful facilities and now a real tourist attraction with the dam and the discovery trail. All it is missing is a nice place to sit down and enjoy a meal. Cafe/bistro/bar/function centre would all be good news in my books. Being able to sell alcohol would increase viability/profitability and make it a function centre. Add in an action bus every, say, 3 hours on weekends and make it accessible to all Canberrans.

I understand the concern about alcohol and accidents, but if you didn’t start serving alcohol until late afternoon and it was a family friendly environment, I’m sure it would not be an issue. I like to take my motorbike around the Cotter, but I’d never do it with a few drinks under my belt and I’d never do it at night. Stopping with some mates at the pub at the end of a ride, having a few light beers over a couple of hours and then puttering home before the sun sets and the skippies start moving would be great.

Selling alcohol or not doesn’t really matter because if people are going to go there to drink or get drunk they will just continue to bring the booze there with them like they do now.

It would be good however to have a kiosk and restaurant catering to everyone with both pies and ice creams for the family and a nice café or bistro t sit down for a nice lunch or dinner.

If the question is whether or not the government should pay I think if they don’t want to spend the funds then at least let private businesses have a chance to bid for a tender because it would indeed be a boost to tourist numbers to our beautiful cotter just like the café is to the arboretum.

Amendments to give renters more rights have passed the Legislative Assembly. It will be easier for renters to keep a pet, make minor modifications to their rental property, and to break a lease without incurring significant costs https://t.co/UG9YEv9ilQ(5 hours ago)